PunkGirl2: Thank you for your interest ^_~ As far as who will end up
with who...that's a very good question...but if I told you the answer...I'm
afraid I'd have to kill you...hehe =P
The Girl Who Cried Oro: Wow,
such a nice long review! Yes, our Earth Kaoru does have to endure a lot...but
just think...our Areth Kaoru had to endure just as much when she was with
Battousai herself. Don't worry, eventually you will get the story of how
Battousai and our Areth Kaoru met. ^_^
Shojin Takaru: Thank you for
your update and I'm glad to know that you are on the look out for my
updates....when I get reviews like that...it inspires me to write.
=)
shiningcrystal: Yes, I am even giving a SPECIAL THANKS to a
reviewer who gave me a "." Why you ask? Because when I saw that little period it
did two things for me. One...it made me outright start cracking up. I was
laughing so hard because I was so baffled. And two...It makes me think that
possibly this is a reviewer like me. So often I tend to write reviews that just
say "continue..." just so that I have some sort of review in my review history
so I can keep track of when the story gets updated. So yes...even that small dot
inspired me to continue. Thanks so much and I hope to see many more dots in the
future. =)
Viny88: What can I say to you...I am so honored to even
have you reading my story! You are such an inspiring author. Even your simple
review was eloquent in the way it was worded. It truly is such a great honor to
know that you thought my work was decent. I only hope that my story will
continue to hold your attention and keep you on edge...always trying to second
guess what twists and turns I may add to the story. I hope to captivate you in
future chapters.
marstanuki (x3): Wow...I got three times the praises
from you! Definitely gotta give you props for liking chapter 3 ^_~. I tried not
to take too long with this chapter...it was delayed a little considering I spent
a weekend with family in Illinois. I hope you enjoy this next
chapter....hopefully it will leave you hanging on the edge of your seat as much
as the last did.
Nanakilover/Brukaoru: I am glad you thought it was
great and I would be more than happy to continue....just scroll down a bit.
=)
kouri: Thank you very much. Yes I tried to keep it original and
think of something that hadn't been done. I liked the idea of the mirror
universe. Hope you continue to enjoy the story.
aglaia102: I'm glad
you like it...and I will continue. I plan on going into the Air Force. That is
my first choice...however if I'm not guaranteed the job I want I may possibly go
Navy.
Midori: Thank you! Yes laryngitis was not fun at all...good
thing the stupid virus is gone. I have my voice fully back now...even the
southern twain. ^_~.
Flarish: Thank you very much for that review.
I'm glad you love it and hope you continue to. I hope you didn't have to wait
too long for this chapter.
Chiichobi: I don't plan on stopping....I am
very happy that you love my story. =)
ON TO THE STORY!!!!
Disclaimer: I do not now, nor will I ever own Rurouni Kenshin or any of it's characters.
Chapter Three: A Secret Revealed
***8 Months Later***
Planet Earth
Kaoru stared at herself in the mirror before her. She rubbed her hands down her gown, attempting to smooth out imaginary wrinkles. She straightened her veil with shaky hands. Married...I can't believe I'm getting married! How I wish it were my Battousai waiting for me at the end of the isle...Someday...I'll break you Battousai. Your heart will be mine...someday.
"Kaoru, what are you doing in there! Hurry up, or you are going to be late for your own wedding!" Kaoru's mother said rushing into the room. She glanced at her daughter. She looks so beautiful. How I wish her birth mother could see her today...she would have been so proud. So many changes have taken place in her these past months. I rather like the quiet, demure attitude she has attained. She's finally growing up...and into such a lovely woman. Mrs. Kamiya wiped away a few stray tears and retrieved Kaoru's bouquet.
"Here you are dear, now run along or you are going to be late!" Mrs. Kamiya said, handing the bouquet of white roses to Kaoru.
Kaoru took her roses in her left hand and gathered her gown in her right before proceeding her mother out her bedroom door. She met her father at the staircase and began descending the winding case to the snow velvet covered isle at the foot of the steps. She glanced up from her feet and into her groom's eyes. Her spirit sank at the pain she found there.
Planet Areth
Kaoru wrapped herself up in a tight ball. She pulled her knees up as far as possible to her chest, wrapping her arms around them. Battousai kicked her wherever he could...mostly in her back. He spit on her face and called her a worthless wench. Then Battousai looked at the girl. Something inside his chest began to hurt. She was so frail and was just huddled into a little ball. He suddenly began feeling sick to his stomach and fled the room.
Kaoru sat up painfully when she heard the click of the door, signaling that it had been locked. She just stared at the door in wonderment. Battousai had been acting so strange the past few months. He hadn't punished her in months. Then, he had stopped beating her as often as he used to and his beatings had gotten rather weak. Not to mention, he usually beat her until she was unconscious, but for the past few months or so...he barely laid a hand on her before fleeing the room. He seems so different. He wasn't even beating me hard. My grandmother could kick harder than he was. Kaoru gasped. I wonder if he knows... The thought that he could know her secret scared her more than anything. She began vomiting. She cringed at the awful mess she had made. She was sure that Battousai had heard her heaving. Battousai was back within minutes with a bucket of water and a couple rags.
"Clean up your mess, wench!" he snarled before turning and leaving.
Kaoru crawled over to where he had left the bucket and dragged it back to her pile of waste. She wiped away the liquid. She plunged the rag into the bucket of water and retrieved it and began scrubbing away at the floor. When she was through, she mad her way over to the closet. She sat herself onto the floor and reached into the closet. Pushing aside a few piles of clothing, she felt around for the loose wooden board she had found months ago. She quickly found it and removed it. Reaching into a small storage spot, she retrieved a dull needle. She pulled about 20 hairs out of her head and wove them together, after which she threaded the needle with the hair.
She had been doing this for months. She had found the dull needle while cleaning the Battousai's living quarters just a few weeks after she had arrived. She had stashed it away quickly, before he could see it. Ever since then, she had been tearing out her hair to thread her needle and had been ripping apart old tattered clothes to begin constructing new garments. She had made plenty of shirts and even made looser jeans. She stared at the one dress she had. How badly she would have loved to wear that...but then Battousai would know that something was up. She was hoping he just thought she was losing weight. She quickly shed her clothes and dressed in her peasant gown. Just as she stood looking down at her accomplishment, Battousai walked in. He looked at her and then glanced down at her feet noticing the small pile of rumpled clothing. He swiftly marched over to Kaoru's side. Grabbing her by the wrist, he dragged her over to the bed and threw her on it.
"And just what, pretell, do you think you are doing?" Battousai growled in warning.
Kaoru just looked at him. Her eyes lost the small spark they had at her accomplishment and became dull, knowing that he would take her clothes away. Battousai stared at her, and for a split second, the stoic look on his face faultered. He saw that small spark die out...and something inside his chest began to tighten in pain.
"You stupid wench! Do you know nothing? Why did you not tell me of your seamstress skills? Had I known you had sewing skills, I would have had you mending my clothes from the start," he said with a low growl. With that he walked out of the room, leaving Kaoru baffled at his words.
Battousai returned a few hours later and dropped off a basket load of torn clothes that needed mending. He also gave her a small box containing a brand new, sharp needle and some thread. As she finished the garments one by one, Battousai stood at the door looking in on occasion. When she got to the bottom of the basket, she looked up with questioning eyes.
"Um...Battousai? What needs to be done with this?" Kaoru asked quietly. Battousai glanced at the fabric in her hands. She was referring to the dark blue curtain he had ripped down from the window in his living room.
"I bought a new curtain...do what you wish with that fabric. Make one of those dresses you are so fond of if you wish," he said gruffly. He saw that small spark jump back into her eyes and smiled within himself. When he realized what he was doing, his eyes turned cold and he slammed her door shut. She again heard the familiar click of the lock. She looked down at the fabric she held in wonderment. What has gotten into him? Is he beginning to change? Kaoru closed her eyes and smiled at the thought. She prayed it was so. She quickly began working on a dress for herself. She was elated when she noticed that the curtain held enough fabric for her to make not one but 3 dresses. She made sure to make them loose...
Planet Earth
Kenshin sat in his wagon holding the reins of the team in his hands. He made every move robotically. Miss Kaoru was sitting on the seat beside him, as he drove them to their home. The whole wedding ceremony was a blur for Kenshin. He kept thinking in his mind and in his heart that he was completely betraying Kaoru's trust. How could he be marrying another girl? When it came time to say "I do" he had to force the words out after Miss Kaoru's prompting.
"Kenshin, are you okay?" Kaoru said, interrupting his private thoughts.
"Yes Miss Kaoru, I'm fine. I just wish we could have prolonged this longer. I can't believe they only let us prolong it 2 months...at least we had 6 months of planning to keep it further out," Kenshin sighed. "I wonder what Kaoru is doing...I wonder how he is treating her," Kenshin spoke forcefully, his grip tightening on the reins. Kaoru put a comforting hand on her husbands forearm.
"I'm sure she is okay Kenshin. Battousai will realize that she isn't me...maybe he even let her go," Kaoru said hopefully.
Kenshin just sighed again deeply. "We're home..."
Kenshin drew the wagon up to the front porch and jumped down. He walked around to Kaoru's side and offered his hand to help her down. She stepped down lightly. She went up and into the house while Kenshin retrieved her trunk.
"I'm going to put your things in the master suite," Kenshin said. He walked up the large staircase and into his bedroom. He deposited her trunk under the window in the room and then went back downstairs. "I left the team out in front. I'm going to go bring them to the barn and rub them down. Make yourself at home here...when I get back we'll discuss the house rules, that we will." With that said, Kenshin walked back outside and hopped up into the wagon, driving the team into the barn.
Kaoru sighed and made her way into the kitchen. She figured she had a good 30 minutes before Kenshin would be in. She familiarized herself with all the things in the kitchen, rearranging them to suit her needs. After all, this was going to be her kitchen now. She smiled with her accomplishment. She glanced out the window and saw that the sun was just beginning to dip behind the horizon. "Hmm...Kenshin should be in soon.." Kaoru made her way back into the living room. She occupied a small rocking chair in the corner and awaited his return.
Kenshin came into the house and found her in the living room. He sat on the other side of the room from her, in an over stuffed lounge chair. "Okay, the rules. Your parents no doubt will be coming by often to visit. The reason I put your trunk in my room is so that they do not think anything is wrong between us. You will sleep in my room and I will sleep in the guest room down the hall. Every night before you retire, I will get some clothes for the next morning and I will discard my used clothes when I rise at the door of the master bedroom. In the mornings, I will be doing the work that I need to be doing, you will be doing the housework. Only housework I do not want you doing...is cooking. That is something I enjoy doing and I would just prefer to do the cooking myself. Do not touch anything in the kitchen. On that note, it has been quite a long day. And a very stressful one at that. I will be retiring for the night...I have to be up quite early. Breakfast will be ready at around 7 o'clock. Goodnight...." With that, Kenshin stood up and walked away.
Kaoru's eyes were wide. She sighed as she realized the job she had ahead of her. She stood up and made her way back into the kitchen. I just hope I can remember where he had everything...man, I wish he would have said something before I decided to go rearrange the kitchen.... Kaoru sighed and set to work...
Planet Areth
Battousai paced back and forth around his living room. What had gotten in to him? He didn't understand it. It was as if this girl was making him soft. Maybe it was the fact that his Kaoru was gone. Sure he missed her...but he was pissed beyond belief that she had run from him too. Could he possibly be thinking that this girl could be his second chance? The change began about 6 months ago. He had savagely raped her and then began beating her after. Yet, he just couldn't bring himself to beat her unconscious. Maybe that was his downfall...from then on he hadn't beaten her as badly. He hadn't even raped her again since then...all he did was smack her around once in a while...what was happening to him? And what of the pains he was suddenly having in his chest?
Battousai dropped into his couch and rubbed at his temples. "What is that girl doing to me..." He sighed deeply. Why was I so kind to her today? That's not like me at all. And what is it with her and those horrid dresses? She has been asking since she got here if she could please wear a dress. Well, now I know why she's all of a sudden been wearing looser garments. Battousai chuckled. He had been wondering where she had been getting the clothes. He knew she wasn't losing weight, in fact, it looked almost as if she had gained a little. That woman is a smart one...I will give her that. She has been taking those clothes of Kaoru's apart and altering them, making them larger. Why she would want to, I don't know. She has a great body, why doesn't she show it off? I don't understand that woman...
Battousai stood up and made his way to her room. He unlocked the door and opened it up. Kaoru was kneeling on the floor picking up snips and pieces of fabric that had fallen on the floor. She was wearing a dress made out of the dark blue curtain. His eyes swooped lazily over her form. She had done a lovely stitching job and the dress looked rather becoming on her. He frowned as he saw the nasty bruise on her eye. It didn't fit with the beautiful dress she was wearing. He once again let his gaze travel down her form and then his eyes froze.
Kaoru had heard Battousai unlock the door and come in. He had been acting so strangely lately that she didn't know what to do or say around him...so she just went about her work. When she noticed he wasn't moving or speaking she glanced up at him. He was looking at her with such an awestruck face...and he also looked scared. She almost laughed aloud at the look of the mighty Battousai with such fear in his eyes. Then she too began to panic with fear. She had realized what he was staring at. She looked down and realized that she had accidentally knelt on the edge of her dress and it was perfectly outlining the shape of her swollen belly...
Well, what did you guys think of that? I know it was short...the next one will be longer...promise. I'm sorry has been a while but I was hoping to get more reviews...so I held out a little longer. I took my ASVAB...I needed to get at least a 65 on it and I scored an 84 so I'm pleased with myself. By how things are looking...I probably won't be leaving for a while...probably not until after the 1st of the year. Well, I'm awaiting your guys' input. Please, if you are a reader of the story and have not yet reviewed, please do...I would really like to know a ballpark of how many readers I have for this story. Also, the only way I will ever know if you even like the story...or even if you don't like it...is if you review. So just click that little button on the lower left hand side of the screen and let me know what you think! Thanks to all of you who have been faithful in reading! Until next time...
Videl621